Director – Christian Addiction and Trauma Recovery Ministry at a horse farm in Costa Rica

About the Ministry

We are a Christ-centered, free residential addiction and trauma recovery ministry located on a working farm just 1 kilometer from the beach in Playa Ocotal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Our 13-month program is built around healing trauma through structure, discipleship, community, and work therapy. We integrate equine therapy, natural horsemanship training, and farm work into the recovery journey. Men learn responsibility, accountability, and healing through daily routines that connect the physical with the spiritual.

To develop cognitive function and decision-making skills, the program includes learning English and playing chess, which help strengthen the thinking part of the brain.

The ministry receives no government funding and is sustained through tourism-based activities such as horse tours and farm tours, which also provide meaningful work opportunities for the men in recovery.

We are seeking a bilingual, detail-oriented Christian man who loves people, is comfortable around animals (especially horses), and is ready to lead and disciple with excellence. Training is provided for all aspects of the role, including teaching recovery classes.

Primary Responsibilities

Recovery Program Oversight

• Supervise all aspects of the men’s recovery journey, including physical needs, trauma recovery classes, spiritual advice, and discipline.
• Teach trauma recovery classes (training provided).
• Provide one-on-one advice and spiritual guidance throughout the 13-month trauma-informed program.
• Maintain inventory of clothing, hygiene items, and classroom materials.
• Choose Saturday movies from an approved list.
• Review and explain the assigned morning work projects in English each day at 8:00 AM, ensuring the men understand the tasks and follow through with responsibilities.
• Occasionally inspect farm chores (e.g., animal care), and dorm chores to ensure tasks are completed properly.

System Management & Documentation

• Create and document systems for every repeatable process on the farm and within the recovery program—including animal care, chores, tours, scheduling, communication, discipline, etc.
• Use Google Docs to document and share systems for easy access and clarity.
• Regularly evaluate and improve systems as needed.
• Ensure systems are understood and followed by men, staff, and volunteers.
• Train men and volunteers on how to follow systems and hold them accountable.

English Learning & Cognitive Development

• Oversee English education, which is primarily taught by volunteers; ensure Phase 1 is learned and tested within the first 7 days.
• Post daily projects on the board in English at 8:00 AM and explain any new vocabulary words.
• Schedule group English classes and one-on-one tutoring with volunteers.
• Require and track chess playing and English learning as tools for cognitive development.
• Conduct weekly English testing and maintain documentation for each participant’s file.

Biblical Conflict Resolution

• Teach and reinforce the conflict resolution method based on Matthew 18:15 during each man’s first week.
• Maintain accountability lists and follow up on resolution deadlines.
• Administer discipline and correction when biblical conflict resolution steps are bypassed.

Seminar Oversight

• Ensure men are engaging with Jahider’s seminar.
• Administer surprise quizzes every 3–4 classes.
• Require men who fail a quiz to rewatch the seminar.

Tour & Appointment Coordination

• Work with the President to decide which men can participate in tours.
• Assign horses and guides for all tours and update the schedule in the booking app when needed.
• Supervise the proper execution of tours, ensuring hospitality, professionalism, and correct use of English.
• Coordinate appointments (IAFA, doctors, ID/cédula acquisition, etc.) based on driver availability.

Family Engagement

• Add families to the communication group within 24 hours of a man’s arrival.
• Clearly communicate program rules and expectations to families.
• Deliver the “Verdaderamente Libre” seminar (training provided).
• Remove families from the group when men leave the program.
• Keep an updated record of approved calls and visit permissions.
• Maintain healthy boundaries and enforce discipline if family rules are violated.

Volunteer Coordination

• Provide direction and accountability for a small team of volunteers (e.g., English teachers and homeless dinner prep).
• Delegate tasks clearly, provide feedback, and ensure alignment with ministry values.

Discipline & Leadership Decisions

• Work with the President to handle discipline cases unless it is a clear zero-tolerance infraction.
• Communicate discipline decisions with clarity, love, and authority.
• Ensure documentation of disciplinary actions is up to date and filed appropriately.

Evaluation & Accountability

• Track men’s progress, behavioral issues, and positive contributions weekly.
• Keep documentation organized for evaluations and leadership review.
• Ensure that systems are not only created—but followed, with accountability as a central priority.

Qualifications

• Male Christian, emotionally and spiritually mature, with a genuine relationship with Jesus and a strong sense of calling to serve in a recovery ministry setting.
• Fluent in English and Spanish, both spoken and written.
• Strong writing, communication, and interpersonal skills in both languages.
• Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple areas of responsibility.
• Proficient in Google Docs for documentation and system creation.
• Comfortable around animals, especially horses; ideally enjoys or is familiar with rural/farm life.
• Able to lead with both compassion and authority—holding men and families accountable to program expectations.
• Teachable and willing to receive training in trauma recovery, equine therapy, teaching recovery classes, and natural horsemanship training methods.
• Comfortable delegating tasks and providing accountability for both the men in the program and volunteers.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Emotionally grounded, culturally adaptable, and willing to live and serve in a developing country.

Summary

This is a unique opportunity to live and serve in a Christ-centered, farm-based ministry in beautiful Playa Ocotal, Costa Rica—just 1 kilometer from the beach. The Director plays a critical role in guiding men through trauma recovery, maintaining structure, implementing systems, and building up lives through accountability, compassion, and discipleship.

If you are a bilingual Christian man with a heart for restoration, leadership, and a willingness to grow through hands-on ministry—this position may be your calling.

To apply, please email your resume and a brief testimony to

vicki@themonkeyfarm.org.